Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Concord has the shortest commute (23 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Derry | Rochester | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
33,144 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
| Rochester and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
66%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Rochester School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.